Brian McDermott still smarting over Wigan defeat

Brian McDermott feels there is more to come from his Reading players as they enter their final 12 games of the season.

Reading FC manager Brian McDermott McDermott is still smarting from the defeat at Wigan in November

Brian McDermott feels there is more to come from his Reading players as they enter their final 12 games of the season.

Royals lost 3-2 to tomorrow’s opponents Wigan after blowing a 1-0 lead at the DW Stadium in November last year.

And McDermott is still smarting from the manner of that defeat as he prepares his side for another hugely important showdown with their fellow Premier League strugglers in the return fixture at Madejski Stadium (3pm kick-off).

“I didn’t like that,” he recalled. “I remember at the time it hurt.

“We were in a position where we had got a point (at 2-2) and we were a little bit innocent to say the least. We gave up the point, but we learnt from that and moved on.

“We are trying to get better and the thing about this squad is that there is so much more to come.

“I look at the younger players coming in and the ones that we have got and they are just getting better.

“The experienced players are getting better too.”

Royals’ boss is trying to secure the club’s Premier League status with another exciting finish to the campaign.

But just over 12 months ago, things were looking slightly different.

It is exactly a year ago today that McDermott signed a new three-year contract at Madejski Stadium after rejecting the advances of then Premier League club Wolverhampton Wanderers.

He said: “I was always happy (at Reading).

“Although if the owner (Anton Zingarevich) had shown any sign that I could have gone, I would have.

“But he didn’t and I never wanted to go at any point.

“The most important conversation I had was with the owner at that time.

“I don’t go to work every day and think ‘am I safe?’

“You can’t live your life like that. I’ve been in football for 30-odd years and I hope to be for another 30.

“I enjoy what I do and don’t worry about if I’m safe or not. We work hard and think we’ve done a good job. The record suggests that.”